How Chesterfield residents are helping refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos

People of Chesterfield have come to the aid of refugees in Greece.
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Donations of clothes, toiletries, sleeping bags and cash have been made to help those at the Kara Tepe camp on the island of Lesbos.

The collection was organised by Chesterfield Stand up to Racism, which held an event on the steps of the town hall on Saturday to show solidarity to refugees – and send out the message that they are ‘welcome here’.

Campaigners showed their solidarity to refugees at Chesterfield Town Hall over the weekend.Campaigners showed their solidarity to refugees at Chesterfield Town Hall over the weekend.
Campaigners showed their solidarity to refugees at Chesterfield Town Hall over the weekend.
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Jeannie Robinson, the group’s spokesperson, said: “In less than a week, we collected two very full car loads of donations which we took to Derbyshire Refugee Solidarity who will deliver to Calais and on to Greece.

“We were most astounded by the cash donations – we raised £900. This money is going to small refugee organisations on Lesbos who are feeding 3,000 refugees a day.”

More than 9,000 refugees and migrants are currently living at the temporary Kara Tepe camp.

The new tent city was built after a blaze destroyed the overcrowded Moria camp earlier this month.

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On Monday, it emerged more than 240 people at the Kara Tepe camp had tested positive for coronavirus.

Chesterfield Stand up to Racism has written to Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins asking him to raise the refugees’ plight in the House of Commons.

Mrs Robinson added: “The group believes more can be done by all European governments to offer asylum to these people who are fleeing war and oppression.”

For more information about Chesterfield Stand up to Racism, visit the group’s Facebook page.

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